Poor egg quality is caused by diminished ovarian reserve and is one of the most common causes of infertility, especially in women over 35. Egg quality is important because it determines embryo quality. Poor egg quality is closely associated with chromosomal abnormalities in embryos, also known as aneuploidy.
Other than age, causes such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, some immunological disorders, obesity, chemotherapy, drug use, smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption may also lead to decreased egg quality.
In fact, poor quality of eggs makes one of the most prevalent reasons for female infertility. At the same time, it does not mean that the road has ended. It is still possible for a woman with poor egg quality to get pregnant and stay pregnant.
If you are looking to improve your egg quality to aid in fertility, many tips revolve around improving your overall health. Exercising, reducing stress, improving your sleep patterns, and getting proper nutrition can all improve egg health. Some women opt to try supplements to improve their fertility.
The increased level of stress hormone such as cortisol reduces estradiol production possibly by affecting the granulosa cell functions within the follicle, which results deterioration in oocyte quality.
While there really is no single treatment to improve egg quality, you still have options. “One could move to donor eggs, or eggs from another female, as another treatment for very poor egg quality,” says Baratz, “but that would be after multiple times of treating a woman with her own eggs if all else failed.”
Impatience is understandable and many people are looking for ways to improve egg quality in 30 days or less. However, it's important to understand that results can take some time: the window for improving egg quality is two to four months before ovulation.
Dehydration can lead to low sperm count as well as decreased egg health, so it's not just important for you to stay hydrated, but for your partner or donor as well. Hydration also plays a role in the hormonal regulation that's key to fertility, and in the production of cervical fluid.
The general advice for eating to achieve healthy eggs and sperm is to have a well-balanced diet which includes: Plenty of fruit and vegetables a day. Complex carbohydrates – whole grains like brown rice, oats and wholemeal bread. Organic foods where possible.
Folic acid supplementation has been shown to improve the environment for the developing egg and is associated with improved chances of pregnancy and reduced risk of ovulatory infertility.
Egg quality starts to decline at age 32 and decreases rapidly after 37. Advanced maternal age also heightens the risk of birth defects. Only 28 percent of women, and 35 percent of men, believe age is the number one contributor to female infertility, the AOA survey found.
Aging is one of the biggest causes of low ovarian reserve; however, sometimes, there is no cause. Other times, genetics or medical treatments cause diminished ovarian reserve. These include: Genetic disorders that affect the X chromosome.
If you're overweight—which typically means you have a BMI of 25 or higher—your doctor may suggest losing weight to regulate ovulation and boost fertility. Even if you have PCOS, weight loss can help to improve the condition.
Women are most fertile and have the best chance of getting pregnant in their 20s. This is the time when you have the highest number of good quality eggs available and your pregnancy risks are lowest.
Egg quality and quantity also decline in a woman's 30s and 40s. While the total number of eggs cannot be increased, research has shown that egg quality can be improved. Supplements containing Myo-inositol, folic acid and melatonin have been shown to help improve egg quality and ovarian function.
Egg quality can also be determined by genetics. Some women might carry genetic mutations that lead to defects in the maturation of human oocytes (eggs). Some young women can have a poor egg quality that is not typical of their young age.
If a poor-quality egg is fertilized, either the embryo is unable to implant, or the embryo initially implants, but is unable to develop properly, resulting in a subsequent miscarriage. Though older women are more likely to have poor quality eggs, younger women, too, can have poor quality eggs.
These include hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinemia and thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism). Uterine or cervical abnormalities, such as polyps or fibroids in the uterus. Fallopian tube damage or blockage, which is often caused by pelvic inflammatory disease.
The hormonal factor
FSH helps control your egg production. When you have a high FSH level, you may have low egg quality and quantity. Estradiol is another hormone we check via a blood test on day three, because it's a form of estrogen and the primary female sex hormone.